Page 54 of The Road to You
I wouldn’t normally answer, even if it’s my mother, but since the accident, I know she’ll panic if I don’t pick up soon. It will take some time for things to return to normal. I’ve alreadyavoided her way too much these last few weeks, communicating with her only through texts.
Lena raises an eyebrow but doesn’t stop what she’s doing. If anything, she slows down, that little minx.
I swipe to answer. “Ciao.” I greet her in Italian, and Lena widens her eyes with curiosity.
I can’t do much. I would speak English to include her in the conversation, but my mom doesn’t speak a word of English.
“Amore mio! Finally! You don’t answer your phone fordays,and now the gossip magazines say you’ve disappeared with amystery woman.”
I close my eyes, trying to focus as Lena kisses along my chest, her breath warm and maddening. I force my voice to stay even, but it’s a titanic effort on my part.
“I’m fine. I just needed some time away from everything.” I avoid explaining the “mystery woman” part. I don’t even know where to start with that.
I’m not usually prone to these rash decisions without at least a heads-up to my family, but I honestly can’t explain why I did it without worrying them about my recovery. They will immediately jump to the worst conclusions, and I don’t know how to explain something I don’t know yet myself.
“Oh, sure. But the press says you’re traveling with a woman. Is it true? Do you have a girlfriend?”
I glance up at Lena. She’s watching me like she’s trying to decipher my words, her brow slightly furrowed, her lips curved in a teasing smirk. And she is still riding me, deep and slowly. I want to reach out and fondle her perfect tits, but I won’t be able to continue my conversation with my mom, that’s for sure.
“Not a girlfriend,” I say slowly. “Just…a woman I’m traveling with. She’s…a friend,” I say, locking eyes with Lena.
Her smile widens. She doesn’t understand the words, but she understands the tone. I suppose she understands we’re talkingabout her, or maybe she has something else in mind to drive me crazy, and right now, I have too much going on to focus on understanding her intentions.
“A friend? Michele! That’s the same tone you used when you first brought home your motorbike. You loved that thing.”
I chuckle, barely suppressing a groan as Lena grinds her hips in slow circles. “Well, she’s less dangerous.” Barely.
“Don’t joke! Your leg, how is it,tesoro? Are you in pain?”
I close my eyes, trying to focus on my mother’s worry through the haze of pleasure clouding my mind. It’s hard. I’m almost tempted to call her back later.
“No.Sto bene. I’m really okay. I’m resting, I swear. She makes sure of that.” I glance pointedly at Lena, who bites her lip like she knows exactly hownotrestful this trip has been, especially after last night.
Damn it! Focus Michele. You can’t go there, not with your mother on the phone.
“I hope you bring her home. I don’t care what the magazines say, I want to meet the woman who stole my son away for the summer.”
“Hmm…”
“If you don’t bring her to visit soon, I’ll come find you myself. Wherever you are.” She cuts me off with her scolding tone, the one that put all of us kids in line when we were young. It will never cease to make my ears perk up even now that I’m an adult.
I laugh out loud. Lena pauses, startled, and I can see her itching to ask.
“She’snotmy girlfriend. And I can’t guarantee anything. It’s not like I can bring random girls to meet my parents.” I try to make her reason, but I’m not sure I will succeed.
“But she’sthere.Withyou.That’s already something.” Her tone is hopeful. She has been worried for years that I will never have a family and will end up alone and miserable. It’s difficultto explain to her that with this kind of job, it’s challenging to figure out if someone is after me as a person, my money, or the fame that comes with it.
I sigh softly, warmed by her voice and the familiar affection in it. “Ti voglio bene.”
“I love you too,amore. Be careful. And tell her I say hello.” I can hear the smile in her voice. She has already decided she is my girlfriend. Nothing will change her mind.
I hang up with a smile still tugging at my lips.
Lena tilts her head. “Okay, who wasthatimportant?”
I grin. “My mom.”
She freezes.
